GSA Completes Restoration of Hipolito Federal Building

GSA has recently completed the restoration of the Hipolito Garcia Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in San Antonio, TX. The courthouse is a model of GSA’s efforts to incorporate cost-saving energy efficiency standards and green building technologies in federally owned properties.

GSA recently finished the renovation on this historic building. (photo by Mark Menjivar)

The renovated building is expected to achieve a 38.8 percent reduction in energy usage, which will result in energy cost savings of approximately $87,515 per year. Some of the key features GSA added to the Hipolito building during the renovation were interior storm windows, high efficiency boilers and chillers, advanced lighting control systems, advance building automation system, energy recovery systems, photovoltaic panels and a green roof. Additionally, the building consumes about 50% less water as a result of replacing 70 year old fixtures with new low flow fixtures.

The U.S. Green Building Council has certified the Hipolito facility with a platinum LEED-New Construction rating, a rating for new construction and major renovations. The building is the first in GSA’s inventory to receive a platinum rating. The energy and water savings contributed heavily to the LEED certification as well as the use of recycled materials, locally produced materials and daylight harvesting. The award exemplifies GSA’s efforts towards sustainability.

The historic Hipolito Garcia Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse has been a landmark in San Antonio since 1937, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.